Latching arrangement



Jan. 30, 1968 E. HALPERN 3,365,919

LATCHING ARRANGEMENT Filed April 29, 1966 2 SheebS-Sheeti l ATTORNEYS Jan. 30, 1968 E. HALPERN LATCHING ARRANGEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 29, 1966 INVENTOR.

ERNST HALPERN ATTORNEYS United States Patent Orifice 3,355,919 Patented Jan. 30, 1968 3,365,919 LATCHING ARRANGEMENT Ernst Halpern, Plainview, N.Y., assigner to Williamsburg Steel Products Co., Brooklyn, NYY., .a partnership Filed Apr. 29, 1966, Ser. No. 546,288 14 Claims. (Cl. 70--107) ABSTRACT OF THE DSCLSURE A latching mechanism for a door, and particularly the side exit door of an elevator cab, whereby when the elevator becomes disabled another elevator having the same type of exit door may be positioned along side the disabled elevator and the doors opened, so that the passengers may be readily and quickly removed from the disabled elevator. The latching mechanism is arranged so that the door may be manually opened from the outside; and also features a dual latching arrangememnt that can be opened from the interior of the elevator by authorized personnel only who possess the proper keys.

This invention relates generally to a latching arrangement and more particularly to a latching arrangement adapted for use in connection with the side exit door of an elevator cab. More specifically, the invention relates to a latching arrangement or mechanism for latching a side exit door of an elevator cab whereby i-t can be manually opened from the exterior of the cab without the use of special tools and can be opened from the interior of the cab only through the use of one or more keys provided for that purpose.

Many building codes require emergency side exit doors in elevator cabs when the 'building is provided with two or more side by side elevators. The side exit doors permit emergency removal of passengers from a stalled elevator by crossover into the adjacent elevator cab which remains operative and which may be moved into a position level with the stalled elevator. By opening the adjacent side exit doors of the operative and stalled elevators, a plank may be laid between the two elevators and passengers removed from the stalled elevator.

The latching arrangement for a side exit door must be so constructed that it will not permit accidental opening of the door during testing of the elevator or at other times. The latching arrangement must be such that the door can be easily opened from inside the elevator cab but be capable of preventing unauthorized opening thereof. The latter requirement is especially stringent in residiential buildings where vandalism sometimes runs rampant.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved latching arrangement which may be easily operated by authorized personnel.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved latching arrangement incorporating means to thwart attempted unauthorized operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved latching arrangement having dual securing means to further impede unauthorized operation.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.

Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, an elevator side exit door is latched by means of a plurality of bars pivoted so as to latch the door in the closed position along its leading edge, with means being provided to impart a mechanical advantage for moving the bars to a non-latching position with minimum effort. Means may additionally =be provided for requiring dual keys in order to move the` bars to a non-latching position with a further embodimen-t including an additional latching portion to further impede unauthorized opening of the door. The latching arrangement necessarily permits manual opening of the door from the exterior of the elevator cab without the use of special tools.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth, and -the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had to the following description taken in connection =with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an elevator cab showing a latched exit door mounted along the side thereof;

FIG. 2 is a partial elevational view of a side exit door and latching arrangement constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the instant invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken along line 3 3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial sectional view of a detent arrangement of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a partial elevational view of a latching arrangement having additional safety means applied thereto;

, FlG. 6 is a partial broken-away perspective view of an embodiment of the instant invention provided with dual latching means; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional end elevational viewof the latching arrangement of FIG. 6.

Referring to FlG. 1, an elevator cab 11 having the usual front access door 12 has a side wall 13 provided wit-h a side exit door 14 for the purposes heretofore described. Shown in phantom is an adjacent cab 15 which ywould have an identical side exit door facing side exit door 14. Should cab 11 become stalled, cab 15 would be brought to the level of the stalled cab, the side exit doors in each cab would be opened, a plank laid between the cabs, and the passengers removed lfrom the stalled cab. Door 14 is hinged to wall 13 through hinges 16 and is held closed by the latching arrangement to be hereafterdescribed. The door is hinged so as to open inwardly of the cab.

The latching arrangement is best seen in FIGS. 2 through 4. A channel 17 is secured to the outside of side wall 13 proximate to the leading edge of door 14. As shown in FIG. 3, channel 17 preferably extends beyond wall 13 to a point behind door 14 to prevent the unauthorized insertion of a tool in the space that would otherwise be present between the channel and the door, such tool conceivably being capable of operating the latching mechanism hereafter described.

To the outside of door 14 (outside making reference to the outside of the cab) is secured a channel 18 which runs substantially the height of the door at its leading edge. A plurality of latch bars 19 are pivoted intermediate the ends thereof to channel 18 by means of suitable pivot pins or rivets 21. Gne end of each latch bar extends through a suitable elongated slot 22 in channel 18 and beyond channel 17 so as to form the latching connection between the door and channel 17 carried by the side wall. An elongated bar 23 extends across the other ends of each latch bar 19 and is pivoted thereto by any Suitable means such as rivets 24. One of latch bars 19 extends beyond bar 23 to provide a handle 25 whereby the latch bars may be manually pivoted from outside the cab.

A detent bar 26 is also pivoted through a pivot pin 21 and a rivet 24 between channel 18 and bar 23. The detent bar has a cam end 27 as best shown in FIG. 4 for releasably holding the latching arrangement in the closed 3 or open position. As shown in the detail of FIG. 4, a pair of bolts 28 extend through channel 18 and through a spaced detent plate Z9. Springs 31 surrounding the bolts urge the detent plate toward cam end 27 with the outward movement being limited by nuts 32. The springs and the detent plate apply contacting pressure to cam end 27 to resiliently retain the detent bar and, through it latch bars 19, in both the closed position shown in full lines in FIG. 4 and the open position shown in phantom lines in FIG. 4. The closed position is also shown in full lines in FIG. 2 and the open position in phantom lines.

An operating bar 33 is pivoted at one end through a rivet 24 to the lower end of bar 23 with the other end of the operating bar pivoted to a link 34 also pivoted to the lowest latch bar 19. Operating bar 33 is preferably provided with a hexagonal aperture 35 through which the latching arrangement can be operated, as hereafter described. The parallelogram arrangement of operating bar 33, link 34 and cooperating bars 19 and 23 assure that the center of aperture 35 remains on the center line drawn through each of pivot pins 21. in this manner, a key may be inserted in the hexagonal aperture and rotated causing the latching arrangement to move between the full and phantom line positions. With this arrangement, the door may be latched in the closed position at a plurality of points to assure a firm and tight closure of the door. The drawing discloses three points but it will be understood that any desired number of suitable latch bars may be added. The parallelogram arrangement heretofore described also effects a mechanical advantage to reduce the amount of force required to overcome the friction inhe-rent in the pivots and the detent action of springs 31 and plate 29.

Referring for the moment to FIG. 6, a hexagonal key 36 is adapted for insertion from the interior of the cab through door 14 and channel 18 into engagement with hexagonal aperture 35 whereby the latching arrangement may be operated from the interior of the cab as well as from the exterior thereof. The importance of this may be readily understood by consideration of the operation of removal of passengers from a stalled elevator. Only authorized personnel are permitted to operate the side exit doors and, when one cab stalls, the authorized person would enter the operable elevator and bring it to the level of the stalled elevator. Since such person is inside of the operative cab, he must be able to open the door of the operative elevator from within the cab whereafter he can reach over and manually open the door of the stalled elevator by operation of handle 25.

Referring now to FIG. 5, it is desirable, especially in residential elevators, to provide additional means to prevent unauthorized operation fo the latching mechanism. Such means may take the form of a suitable lock 37 secured through wall 14 and channel 18 and having one end of an elongated plate 38 attached to the lock cylinder for rotation therewith. The other end of the plate normally extends into a blocking position between channel 18 and aperture 35. In the normal position as shown in FIG. 5, plate 38 prevents the insertion of key 36 into aperture 35 unless the plate has been rotated to a non-blocking position. Lock 37 is operated by a key 39 shown in FIG. 7. The key `and lock are preferably of good quality that resist picking and are suitable since only small forces are required for rotation of plate 38. On the other hand, it would not be practicable to attempt rotation of operating bar 33 by means of a key and lock since the forces required for operating the latching mechanism are, understandably, substantially greater. This is why a relatively unsophisticated key 36 is provided for operating the latching mechanism and it will be understood that such key could be easily duplicated for unauthorized operation were lock 37 and plate 38 not provided.

As heretofore mentioned, vandalism presents a real problem in elevators installed in residential buildings.

Thus, it may be desirable to provide a dual latching arrangement and such an improved arrangement is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. A channel 41 is secured to the outside of door 14 along the lower edge thereof proximate to a channel 42 secured along the outside of side wall 13. A cylinder 43 is secured to channel 41 and has extending from one end thereof a slideable bolt 44 spring biased outwardly by means of a spring 45. A rod 46 is connected to bolt 44 and extends through the other end of cylinder 43. A bell crank 47 is secu-red, intermediate its ends, to the rotatable cylinder portion of lock 37 by means such as screw 4S. One arm 49 of the bell crank extends in normal blocking position with respect to aperture 35 thereby performing the same function as plate 38 of FIG. 5. The other arm 51 of the bell crank extends inwardly parallel to the outside surface of the door and has hooked thereover an end of rod 46. A lifter arm 52 is also secured to rod 46.

The projecting end of bolt 44 is provided with a tapering cam surface of known configuration with the flat surface adapted to engage a leading edge of channel 42 so as to latch the door in the closed position as shown in FlG. 7. During closing of the door, the tapered edge cams over the channel thereby deecting the bolt and causing it to slide into cylinder 43 until the fully closed position of the door is attained whereupon the bolt springs outwardly to latch the door. To unlatch the bolt, key 39 is inserted in lock 37 and rotated whereupon bell Crank 47 rotates therewith. Through arm 51, rod y46 effects a withdrawal of the bolt. Concurrently, ar-m 4? is rotated out of a blocking position whereupon key 36 may be inserted through circular aperture 54 aligned with aperture 35 to rotate the latch bars as -described in connection with FIG. 2.

As disclosed, key 36 is preferably provided with an undercut 53 which provides a catch for the arm 49. The door can be pulled open from inside the car using the key as a handle, whereby withdrawal of the key is prevented. Only on rotation of key 39 will arm 49 be moved to a non catching position to permit withdrawal of key 36.

Bolt 44 may be manually operated from outside of the cab through lifter arm 52 so that the dual latching arrangement may be operated from without for reasons heretofore set forth.

The embodiments of the latching arrangement have been described as being mounted to the side exit door. It will be understood that, if desired, such Iarrangements could be mounted to the side wall for latching of the door in the manner heretofore described.

Also, while operating bar 33 and link 34 are shown proximate to the lowermost latch bar 19, it will be understood that the operating bar and link may be connected to any of the latch bars, in accordance with the desired location of aperture 35.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above constructions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

What is claimed is:

1. Latching arrangement comprising a plurality of latch bars, fixed pivots for said latch bars, an elongated bar extending between said latch bars and pivoted thereto, an operating bar pivoted to said elongated bar and extending parallel to at least one of said latch bars, a link pivoted between said operating bar and said one of said latch bars, and means for pivoting said operating bar about an axis parallel to the pivotal axis of said fixed pivots.

2. A latching arrangement comprising a plurality of latch bars, aligned lixed pivots for said latch bars, an elongated bar extending between said latch bars and pivoted thereto along a line parallel to said aligned fixed pivots, an operating bar pivoted to said elongated bar and extending parallel to at least one of said latch bars, a link pivoted between said operating bar and said one of said latch bars, and means for pivoting said operating bar about an axis on the line of said aligned fixed pivots.

3. A latching arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein the distance between the pivot of said link to said operating bar and said one of said latch bars is equal to the distance between the pivot of said elongated bar to said operating bar and said one of said latch bars.

4. A latching arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein one yof said latch bars extends substantially beyond said elongated bar with respect to said fixed pivot to provide a handle portion for manual operation of said latching arrangement.

5. A latching arrangement as claimed in claim 2, and including detent means comprising a detent bar, a xed pivot for said detent bar aligned with said other fixed pivots, said detent bar being pivoted to said elongated bar, said detent bar having a cam and proximate to said fixed pivot, a detent plate and spring means acting on said detent plate for biasing same toward said cam end.

6. A latching arrangement as -claimed in claim 2, and including a lock and means operatively rotatable with said lock for selectively preventing access to said lmeans for pivoting said operating bar from one side thereof.

7. A latching arrangement as claimed in claim 6, wherein said means for pivoting said operating bar comprises a non-circular aperture in said bar, and said means operatively rotatable with said lock comprises a plate secured to said lock for rotation therewith and extending so as t-o selectively block said non-circular aperture from one side of said operating bar.

8. A latching arrangement as claimed in claim 1 and including independent latching means and locking means for operating said independent latching means, said locking means including means for selectively preventing access to said means for pivoting said operating bar from one side thereof.

9. A latching arrangement comprising rst latching means including a pivoted operator, second latching means, and locking means for operating said second latching means, said locking means including means :for selectively preventing access to said operator from one side thereof.

10. A latching arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein said second latching means comprises a spring biased slide bolt and a rod, said rod being in operative engagement with said locking means.

11. A latching arrangement as claimed in claim 1li, wherein said rod is operative independently of said locking means.

12. A latching arrangement as claimed in claim 11, and including a handle portion mounted to said rod for operating said rod and slide bolt independently of said locking means.

13. A latching arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein said locking means comprises a lock and a plate operatively rotatable with said lock, one portion of said plate cooperating with said second `latching means for operating same, said means for selectively preventing access to said operator comprising another portion of said plate.

14. A latching arrangement as claimed in claim 13, wherein said plate is in the form of a bell crank alxed to said lock intermediate its end, one arm of said bell crank forming one portion of said plate, and the other arm of said bell crank forming the other portion of said plate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,297,427 3/1919 Wightman 70--114 1,529,085 3/1925 Preble 292-48 1,654,197 12/1927 Waring 292-47 MARVlN A. CHAMPTON, Primary Examiner. EDWARD J. MCCARTHY, Assistant Examiner. 

